Plural fire alarm signaling system reproducing sound records



Oct. 26, 1943. L 2,332,775

PLURAL FIRE ALARM SIGNALING SYSTEM REPRODUCING SOUND RECORDS Fild Feb. 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 26, 1943 PLURAL FIRE ALARM SIGNALING SYSTEM REPRODUCING SOUND RECORDS Keith Lansing Bell, Washington,

of one-half to Curtis D. 0., assignor McGhee, Washington,

Application February 3, 1941, Serial No. 377,253

8 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling apparatus generally. More particularly this invention relates to signaling apparatus such as fire alarms in which a recording is reproduced for the purpose of giving the fire alarm.

An object of this invention is to provide fire alarm signaling apparatus in which recorded signals are reproduced for the purpose of giving a fire alarm.

Another object of this invention is to provide signaling apparatus employing a plurality of signal records, each of said records having means associated therewith whereby selected ones of said records may be reproduced as desired.

A further object of this inventionis to provide a plurality of signal records and common reproducing means associated therewith for se lectively reproducing said records.

Another object of this invention is to provide one or more signal records in a street fire alarm box, said street fire alarm box having a lowpowered radio transmitting device associated therewith for transmitting the fire alarm signal to desired fire fighting apparatus when said box is actuated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide fire alarm signaling apparatus for heavily populated sections, said signaling apparatus having means provided thereto for selectively signaling for large fires and small fires.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates, from the following specification and the claims.

In accordance with this invention I provide a signaling system for use in signaling fire alarms, said signaling system being adapted to save considerable time in transmitting the alarm from the fire to the fire apparatus station. In addition to saving time in signaling, my invention also is provided with means for transmitting different signals for a large fire from those transmitted for a small fire. This is extremely important in fighting fires in relatively heavily populated sections. The system now in use does not distinguish between large and small fires and as a result as an alarm comes into the fire ap aratus station from a relatively heavily populated center usually all or a large part of the fire apparatus responds to that fire.

On many occasions it is found that the fire could have been put out by one piece of fire fighting apparatus and the wear and tear on the other apparatus could thus have been saved. However in the system now in use no way of transmitting a signal characterised by the size and danger of the fire is provided and consequently the fire department must respond with what it considers sufiicient apparatus and thisusually depends upon the density of the population in the section where the fire occurred. Consequently much more fire fighting apparatus is required because a sufficient reserve must be kept at the fire station to take care of more than one alarm. In my system it is not necessary for large forces of apparatus to respond they may be sound recordings on film such as used in talking motion pictures, or they may be magnetic recordings on magnetic tape, wire, disks or cylinders. Slow speed recordings, such as, for example, recordings corresponding to 33 R. P. M. are preferably employed although of course various other speeds may be used if convenient. The record reproducing device or devices used in the street fire alarm box are connected to a cable leading to the fire apparatus station where the signals are amplified and re produced through a suitable loudspeaker as well as recorded for future reference. A small am plifier may be provided in a street fire alarm box for amplifying the signal reproduced from the recording before this signal is transmitted over the cable to the fire apparatus station; however this is not necessary.

Furthermore, if desired, the record reproducing devices at the street fire alarm box may be used to modulate a relatively low-powered radio transmitting station which may be of the ultra-highfrequency type.- In this way signals may be transmitted from the street fire alarm box directlyto a fire-fighting truck, scout car and/or to the fire apparatus station. Each street fire alarm box radio transmitter may be assigned a slightly different carrier frequency, or if a large number of fire alarm boxes use the same carrier frequency, they may be distinguished by different modulating frequencies.

For example the carrier frequency of one radio transmitting station may be modulated with a constant tone frequency of 10 kilocycles and the have its carrier modulated with a 19 kilocycle frequency which is modulated by its recording signals and so on. This may be readily accomplished when ultra-high frequency radio signals are employed. These signals have a relatively limited effective range and if low power-is employed no danger of interference between neighboring cities would be encountered.

Furthermore the record reproducing devices of one street box may be joined to therecord reproducing devices of another street box through a co-axial cable which in turn is connected to the fire apparatus station. In this case the recordings of one street fire alarm box may be made by super-imposing the recorded soun s upon a relatively high frequency carrier sou d, so that the records reproduced at one street box differ from those reproduced at another street box because different high-frequency carrier sounds are used in making the recordings for the different boxes. Thus the operator at the fire apparatus station will know immediately from which street box he is receiving signals. This type of recording also may be used in modulating the ultra-high-frequency transmitter and the modulating problem thereby simplified.

Other features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichit relates, from the following specificatiomclaims and drawings in which briefiyz Fig. 1 illustrates aschematic diagram of connections. of the apparatus of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the front face of a fire alarm Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a switch illustrated schematically in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 shows'a combined assembly of the automatic and manual switches and their controls of Fig, '7, mounted for cooperative actuation with the plural alarm record disk of Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings in detail,

reference numerals H), H, l2, l3, l4 and I designate circular sound record bearing elements having associated therewith styli 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively, for reproducing the signals recorded thereon. Each of the elements 10, ll, l2, l3, M, I5, is provided with a portion as Iii-b having a locking notch I62; this is shown in Fig. 1 only for the first element ID. The styli may be of any conventional type made of materials such as steel, fiber, sapphire and the like, and the record carrying members ID to inclusive also may be of conventional materials such as shellac and compositions thereof, hard rubber, synthetic resin, Celluloid, cellulose acetate, aluminum, anodized aluminum and the like. Each of the styli 23 to'25 inclusive are attached to a suitable armature which is positioned in the magnetic field of a suitable coil 30 to 35 inclusive, respectively.

Where desired the styli 2D to 25 inclusive may be attached in a conventional manner to a piezoascents electric crystal pick-up and in that case the crystal is substituted for the coils to inclusive.

The record bearing members ID to IE inclusive are attached to spring-motors to inclusive, respectively, and these spring motors are provided with suitable driving means for driving the record carrying members associated therewith at a substantially constant speed when the aforesaid record carrier members are released by the manually operable hooks 55 to '55 inclusive. The hooks to inclusive are provided with catch elements to inclusive, respectively, which engage suitable notches I62 formed in the portion as Ill-b of record elements ill to i5 inclu sive, respectively. Thus when the hook 53, for example, is pulled down, the catch 50 releases the record element In and the spring motor 45 rotates'this record element. The, catch 60 rides on the unnotched part ofthe periphery of portion |0--b of member i0, and is held depressed and holds switch closed until member ID rotates a revolution to again bring notch 62 to engage catch 50. As a result the stylus 2:! reproduces the record carried by the element ID. In the same manner the other record elements may be released by pulling down the hooks associated therewith.

In practice the element It] has inscribed thereon the first alarm and the hook 50 may therefore be actuated from the outside of the box 56 shown in Fig. 2 for transmission of the first alarm from the scene of the fire. In order to transmit second, third, fourth and fifth alarms, the box 55 must be opened and the hooks 5|, 52, 53 and 54 operated from the inside thereof. A second hook 55 also may be operated from the outside of the box and this hook is employed for the purpose of releasing the small fire signal record l5. A small crank 46 is provided on each of the spring motors 40 to 45 inclusive for the purpose of winding these motors.

Suitable switches 80 to inclusive, mechanically coupled to the hooks 50 to 55 inclusive, respectively, are provided in series with the pickup coils 30 to 35 inclusive, respectively. These switches are each arranged so that pulling downwardly the hook associated therewith closesthe circuit of the corresponding switch. For example, pulling the hook 50 down releases the record element In and at the same time closes the switch 85. Each of the hooks 50 to 55 inclusive is provided with a bias spring 10 to 15 inclusive, respectively, tending to maintain the hook assoei ated therewith in its upper position.

The pick-up coils 35 to 35 inclusive may be connected directly to the cable |58|D9 which may be a conventional two-wire cable or a coaxial type cable as l09-a. On the other hand, if it is desired to tune each of the pick-up coils 30 to 35 inclusive to a somewhat different audio or supersonic frequency, condensers .90 to inclusive of sizes such as to tune each of the coils to different frequencies, may be connected in series therewith. In the circuit shown, a suitable vacuum tube amplifier l 06 is shown as'connected between the pick-ups 30 to 35 inclusive and the cable [08-409, and this amplifier is shown as a common amplifier for all of the pick-ups. In known manner there may be alternatively employed individual amplifiers for the individual pick-ups, or individual amplifiers for the individual pick-ups connected to a common power amplifier the output of which is in turn connected to the cables ill8i69.

It is of course desirable to match the impedance of the pick-ups 36 to 35 inclusive, individually to the cable IOU-I09, and for this purpose suitable impedance matching networks may be provided between these pick-ups and the cable.

Where desired the amplifier I06 may be provided with a suitable antenna I01 and radio frequency generator ISI for the purpose of radio transmission. This radio transmission may take place simultaneously with that over the cables I08I09' or independently of the cable transmission. For this purpose the antenna I01 may .be a dipole type as shown in Fig. 2 supported I24-I23, I23-I22, I22I2I, respectively.

Thus when the record element IUa is released by pulling down the hook 50a against its spring, the stylus 20a reproduces the first alarm until the hook 56a engages the notch I24. In order to signal the second alarm, the hook 50a must be pulled again to release the element IIJa further.

However the switch 802) in shunt with switch 80::

must be manually closed before the second alarm may be transmitted since the hook 50a is arranged to close the switch 8 -a onlyfor'the first alarm.

Thisis shown more clearly in Fig. '7 and Fig. 8. In these figures are illustrated a contact plunger I26 of insulating material which is provided with a pawl and ratchet device I21-I28 on the side thereof, and is normally held up by spring I66.

The plunger I26 is connected mechanically to the hook 50a by connecting rod I36 and catch rod I15-I3I, and when this hook 50--a is pulled down the plunger I26 is also pulled down so that the contact stud 80c carried by plunger I 26 and both of the fixed contacts 80a are in line and the circuit of the electric pick-up 30a is closed to amplifier I10 and co-axial cable I1I. This circuit remains closed because the catch I28 engages the bottom tooth I21 and holds the contact stud 80-c in line with fixed contacts 8!I-a.

When the hook 50a is pulled the second, third, fourth and fifth times, that is, to release the element Illa. respectively from notches I24, I23, I22, I2 I, the catch I28 is caused to engage the upper tooth I21 and hold the contacts 80a out of line. Consequently the manual auxiliary switch 8022' which short-circuits the contacts 80a must be closed manually before the second alarm can be transmitted and this should preferably be done by a fireman. The connecting rod member I30 and catch rod I connect the plunger I26 to the hook 50a, and the latter is provided with a catch I3I similar to catch I28 and the actuating rod I29 oi" hook 50a is provided with teeth I32 to engage the catch I3I. However the rod I29 has three teeth I32 whereas the plunger I26 has only two teeth I21 inasmuch as the catch I3I is initially in engagement with the uppermost tooth I32. The switch 86b is automatically opened by the projection I of the plural-record-bearing element Ida when this element completes a cycle of operation, that is, when the element Illa is completely rotated, by projection I25 engaging terminal block I12 of control rod I69, and overcoming its spring, and pin I13 is pushed down to open switch -1). At the same time the catches I28 and I 3! are also automatically rcleased by the projection I25 pushing control rod I69 down and causing bell cranks I14 and I13 to respectively push back rod I80 carrying catch I28, and rod I15 carrying catch I3I, by pushing on pin I19, so that the hook 50a and plunger I26 may return to their normal stopped position at which the hook 50a is in the notch I29, and the box is re-set for another cycle of operation.

If after arriving at a fire, the fireman finds it only a one-alarm fire 'and that there is no need of a second or further alarm, the fireman opens the box and manually releases the disc I0-a and rotates the same until its first alarm sector carrying the projection I 25 is in actuatable position as shown in Fig. 3. As this is being done, the projection I25 engages cam I12 and thereby disengages the catch I28 and the catch I 3I from their respective teeth on rods I26 and I29 which re-sets rods I26 and I29. The catches I28 and I3] may also be individually released manually if desired by the fireman when the box is open.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a form of this invention in which the record reproducing styli 20 to 25 inclusive are mounted on a common member I26a which is connected to the armature of the pick-up coil 30b. Suitable springs I63 are employed for supporting the member I26a.

Fig. 5 shows a, form of this invention employinga'magnetic tape or wire I41 for carrying the record of the desired message, and running between reels I64, I64. A reproducing pick-up device I48 is positioned adjacent to the magnetic tape I41 for reproducing the record from this tape. A suitable amplifier I49 or other device such as the apparatus I06 shown in Fig. 1, is connected to the pick-up device I48. An erasing magnet I43 is provided adjacent to the tape I41 for the purpose of erasing the magnetic recording 'on the tape if desired. Another magnet I50 used to place a magnetic record on the tape is provided and this magnet is connected to the ampli-' fier I5I and the microphone I52. The microphone I52 and amplifier I5I need not be positioned in the box but may be disconnected therefrom and connected thereto by a fireman desiring to put a, new message on the magnetic tape I41.

Fig. 6 illustrates another form of this invention employing a disk I34 having a record thereon adapted to modulate the light from the lamp I31 and lens I36 before said light passes to the light sensitive cell I35. The light sensitive cell I35 may be a selenium cell, a photovoltaic cell. an alkali photoelectric cell or similar light responsive device. In this cascthe manual control hook 50b engages a gear inside of the spring motor 40a to release and stop the rotation of the disk I34 by the spring motor.

It is obvious that various messages may be placed on the record elements in the street fire alarm box. For example the identity of the box may be carried by these record elements in the form of voice or sound recordings. The street on which the box is located also may be carried by the sound record element. Various other information may be inscribed on these records for the purpose of assisting the fire department.

' A suitable amplifier is provided at the central fire station for amplifying the messages received from the various fire boxes: This amplifier also record bearing may be connected to recording apparatus for recording the messages received from the fire boxes.

What I claimis:

1. Fire alarm signaling apparatus of the class described, comprising: a recording containing a plurality of fire alarm messages desired to be transmitted selectively, an electrical device for reproducing said recording, a housing for said recording and said electrical device, a manual fire alarm release device extending to the outside of said housing for initiating the reproduction of said recorded fire alarm message, means for transmitting the fire alarm message to at least one fire apparatus station, a-switch mechanically connected to said manual release for connecting said electrical device to said last means, means: for opening said switch when the first, messageof said recording is reproduced, and an auxiliary manually operated switch-for closing the circuit to said electrical device for the reproduction of additional messages from said recording the transmission of the second, and third alarms.

2. Fire alarm signaling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that -.said manual release consists of a hook, an insulatingmr-mber mechanically connected to said hook for carrying contacts of said first switch for closing the circuit of said electrical device when said hook is operated for transmitting the first alarm.

3. Fire alarm apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said recording consists of a member having catches for determining the movement thereof in the reproduction of each of the alarms.

4. Fire alarm apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said manual release consists of a book, an insulating member mechanically connected to said hook for carrying contacts of said first switch for closing the circuit of said electrical device when said hook is operated for transmitting the first alarm, and a mechanical release associated with said recording for releasing all of saidswitches and said hook after a predetermined alarm has been transmitted.

5. In fire alarm signaling apparatus, a disc pe ipherally provided with a plurality of engaging means, the sectors between said peripheral engaging means being provided consecutively with a series of separate recorded messages respectively designating consecutive fire alarrns from a first alarm to a plural numbered alarm;

electrical pick-up means adapted to translate said recorded messages into electrical energy means for rotatably driving said disc,displaceswitch open when said locking means is in locking position whereby a first alarm may be sent in when said switch is closed, and means whereby a plural numbercdalarm may thereafter be sent independent of the position of said switch.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, and resilient means normally urging said switch into an open position, and retaining means adapted to retain said switch in closed position when displaced thereto by displacement of said locking means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, said displaceable locking means being provided with a locking rack, said interconnecting means comprising an engaging finger adapted to engage a tooth of said locking rack, and said switch being longitudinally displaceable into and out of closed position and comprising a second rack, resilient means urging said switch in one direction, and a switch catch adapted to engage a tooth of said second rack for holding the same in a fixed position against the urging of said resilient means, and said switch and said locking means and said interconnecting means being so constructed and arranged that the first actuation of said locking means displaces said switch into and retains the same in closed position, and the second actuation of said locking means displaces said switch into and retains the same in open position until said catch is released from engagement with said second rack.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, said displaceable locking means being provided with a locking rack, said interconnecting means comprising an engaging finger adapted to engage a tooth of said locking rack, and said switch being longitudinally displaceable into and out of closed position and comprising a second rack, resilient means urging said switch in one direction, a,-

switch catch adapted to engage a tooth of said second rack for holding the same in a fixed position against the urging of said resilient means, and said switch and said locking means and said interconnecting means being so constructed and arranged that the first actuation of said locking means displaces said switch into and retains the same in closed position, and the second'actuation of said locking means displaces said switch into and retains the same in open position until said catch is released from engagement with said with said first alarm.

KEITH LANSING BELL 

